1. Request for information about sign language legislation in Europe

https://vimeo.com/214040914

Relevant information on sign language legislation in Europe can be found in the second edition of the book published by the EUD 'Sign Language Legislation in the European Union' . This is a comprehensively revised book on the legal status of the national sign languages in the EU Member States and at supranational level. This publication gives essential insight into sign language legislation and will aid stakeholders in their work towards achieving full and equal rights for sign language users. The book can be downloaded from our website: https://www.eud.eu/publication/book-publications/

The EUD as well recommends to take a look at the presentation which was given by EUD president Markku Jokinen during the "Multilingualism and equal rights: the role of sign languages" conference in the European Parliament, hosted by Helga Stevens (Member of the European Parliament) on 28th of September 2016. The aim of the presentation was to provide an overview of the different sign language legislation recognition types.

If you have a question about a specific country, we encourage you to contact the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) of the country in question. Please find the contact information of all the NADs here: https://www.eud.eu/eud-members/

If you have any other questions regarding sign language legislation in Europe, do not hesitate to contact EUD Policy Officer Katja Reuter: katja.reuter@eud.eu

2. We don't offer any sign language courses

https://vimeo.com/214035872

The EUD does not have a learning centre which could offer sign language courses. We strongly recommend you to get in touch with the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) in the country whose sign language you wish to learn to get further information/guidance. You can find the contact information for all NADs here:

3. How are the members associations of the EUD elected?

https://vimeo.com/214019296

In order to become a member of the EUD, an applicant association first needs to see if all the requirements to become a member are fulfilled. There are three different membership categories for associations of the deaf and related organisations: (1) full members, (2) affiliated members and (3) associate members.

(1) Full members are national organisations of Deaf people (‘National Associations of the Deaf’, NADs) which are active in the Member States of the European Union. In addition, national organisations of deaf people active in the Member States of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) are also eligible for admission to the full membership category. Full membership is limited to one (1) national organisation of the deaf in each country.

(2) Affiliated Members are national organisations of deaf people (‘National Associations of the Deaf’, NADs) active in Central and Eastern Europe, which have signed an Accession Treaty with the European Union and/or may be joining the European Union in the future. This category may also apply to non-EU national organisations of deaf people that are active in countries that a geographically situated in Europe and that have signed or may sign a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with the European Union. This category may in the future also apply to Member States of the Council of Europe (CoE) after ratification by the General Assembly. Other countries that are not geographically situated in Europe but wish to become affiliated to EUD for political or other reasons require prior approval by the General Assembly.

(3) Associate Members are any European, national, regional, and local organisations situated in Europe that desire to support the aims of the Association. This may include corporate and profit-oriented associations and groupings.

Furthermore, Honorary Membership may be conferred upon any individual, legal or physical that has rendered important and outstanding European and international services to EUD and the European Deaf Community.

More in-detail rules on how to become a member of the EUD are set forth in the Statutes of the EUD and Internal Rules of the Association:

5. Can I be an observer at General Assembly?

https://vimeo.com/214638107

Every General Assembly has its observation area where the observers can join and watch the General Assembly.

The General Assembly normally starts on the 3rd weekend of May, therefore in case you would like to be an observer, we strongly advise you to get in touch with us four weeks in advance. This can be done through the contact form:

6. How do we get the funding?

https://vimeo.com/214032929

The European Union of the Deaf is funded by the European Commission and the fees paid by its member associations. With regards to funding from the European Commission, EUD is a recipient of a grant in the framework of the Rights, Equality and Citizenship (REC) Programme 2014-2020 from the Directorate General Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. Moreover, we receive funding for projects we participate in.

As our funding is specifically allocated for EUD's activities, we are not in a position to give financial support to persons in need.

7. Internships at the EUD

https://vimeo.com/214637207/

The EUD as a leader in deaf politics is committed to building future leaders. We offer internship opportunities for both deaf and hearing persons.

The duration of the EUD internship is three months. The selected candidate would work in the department best suited to his or her skills: Policy, Media and Communication, Administration or Interpretation. An intern at the EUD would be immediately integrated as a full member of our team with real responsibilities from the first day in the office. We offer two paid internship placements per year, one in Spring and one in Autumn. Offers for the internships at the EUD are published on our website around that time.

EUD has accommodated two types of interns.

- People who wish to apply for an EUD internship can submit an application when there is a call for offers on the EUD website. The European Commission funds the costs associated with this role (flights and monthly payment). These interns must be nationals of the EU member state. Internships must be 3 months minimum in duration.

- EUD is also aware of individuals who are not from the EU, but are university students and/or have some type of scholarship that covers the cost of their transportation to and overall stay in Brussels. The EUD is open to such situations by providing office space and a deaf environment in which to work in/from.

We don't encourage summer internship as it is the most quiet season of the year.

8. Recommendation of International Sign interpreters

https://vimeo.com/214020725

The EUD is not in the position to recommend International Sign interpreters. However we suggest to take a look at the WFD-WASLI International Sign Interpreter Accreditation joint initiative which aims to address the increasing demand of International Sign Interpretation in the international arena. You can find a list of WFD-WASLI Accredited IS Interpreters there:

9. The EUD's contribution to culture events

https://vimeo.com/214022584/

The aim of the EUD is to represent and promote the interests of Deaf Europeans at European Union level. This does not correlate with the cultural and creative sectors. Therefore, the appearance of the EUD staff/board for the selected cultural event is unlikely.

However, if you would like us to make an appearance, please get in touch with invitation details.

10. Use of EUD Logo

Please read this document before accessing the EUD logo. By accessing the EUD Logos, you agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions. These terms and conditions may be updated by EUD from time to time by posting the updated terms and conditions without prior separate notification to you.

Acceptance

These are the terms and conditions between yourself and EUD Europa N.V., having its place of office at Rue de la Loi - Wetstraat 26/15 - 1000 Brussels - BELGIUM

(“EUD”) concerning the use of the EUD Logos available for download on this website.

Use

EUD authorises you (individual or company), as a journalist, press company or member of the press to download and use any of the EUD Logos in Europe Middle East and Africa and on the Internet for press purposes only, including in the following media:

a) printed press (including magazine covers)

b) TV

c) on-line media

d) newspapers

•Within the scope of the permitted use, the EUD Logos must not be changed or altered in any way. The EUD Logos must always be shown consistently and in accordance to the guidelines provided

•The EUD Logos must not be used for any commercial purposes, including but not limited to trade promotions, point of sale materials, posters, billboards or other trade purposes

•The EUD Logos must not be used in a manner that dilutes their value, places EUD or its affiliates in a position of disrepute or causes confusion as to the relationship between you, your company EUD and/or the EUD group of companies. If EUD considers in its sole discretion that any of the EUD Logos is being used in such a manner, you will immediately cease the use of the EUD Logos in the particular manner upon request

You acknowledge and agree that you have no right, title or interest in the EUD Logos other than expressly by these terms and conditions, and that all such right, title or interest in the EUD Logos shall be owned exclusively by EUD and/or EUD group of companies. You further acknowledge and agree that nothing in these terms and conditions shall be construed as an assignment or grant you of any right, title or interest in or to the EUD Logos or in any copyright, trade mark or industrial design of EUD or EUD group of companies save for the limited right granted under these terms and conditions. EUD and any of EUD's group companies and the officers, directors, employees, shareholders or agents of any of them, exclude, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all liability and responsibility for any amount or kind of loss or damage that may result to you or a third party, (including without limitation, any direct, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damages, or any loss of income, profits, goodwill, data, contracts, use of money, or loss or damages) arising from or connected in any way to the download and/or use, inability to download and/or use or the results of the download and/or use of the EUD Logos. This shall not affect your statutory rights or any liability, damage or remedy that cannot be excluded under applicable law.

Termination

EUD reserves the right to request you to immediately stop any use of the EUD Logos if you fail to comply with any of these Terms and Conditions or for any other reason. Upon such request, you shall immediately stop your use of the EUD Logos and immediately destroy all non-published copies of the EUD Logos.

General

The construction, validity and performance of these terms and conditions shall be governed by Belgian Law, and EUD and you agree to submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Brussels courts.

A failure of EUD to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms and Conditions shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision and shall in no way affect its right to later enforce or exercise it.

If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the parties agree that it shall not effect the validity or enforceability of any other terms or rights which shall continue in full force and effect except for any such invalid or unenforceable provision or part thereof..

11. Issues of Migrants and Refugees

https://vimeo.com/214031079

The EUD does not have any kind of authority when it comes to the issue of migrants or refugees. We strongly recommend you to get in touch with the National Association of the Deaf of the country in question to get further information/guidance.

16. How to attend seminars organised by the EUD?

17. What are the current activities of the EUD?

https://vimeo.com/214029314

In general, it is EUD's vision that Deaf people all over Europe must have equality in both public and private aspects of life. The main objectives it wants to support and see realised are: the recognition of the right to use an indigenous sign language, empowerment through communication and information, and equality in education and employment.

All the activities of the EUD are published on our website and social media:

18. Data and statistics requests

https://vimeo.com/214026569

EUD is a not-for profit that represents all Deaf people at European level and does advocacy work aiming at achieving equality of deaf people in Europe in both public and private aspects of life. To achieve this objective, the EUD establishes and maintains EU level dialogue with its relevant institutions and officials, in consultation and co-operation with its member national associations of the deaf (NAD).

However, our activities do not include academic research. This is why the EUD is unable to answer any specific query on various statistics/rankings. This research might already exist within universities and institutions, but we do not have access to these various research papers across Europe.

However, please find some interesting links that might get you started:

If you have further data and statistics requests, we would recommend you to contact the Eurostat desk in your country to ask for further statistics that might exist in your language: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/help/support

19. Is there a Sign Language symbol?

https://vimeo.com/225831553

A review of the sign language symbol was proposed through a motion by one of EUD's member associations during the EUD General Assembly 2016. The request was to to develop and vote on a symbol which is not as strongly linked to one specific sign language, as the ASL symbol for sign language that is used frequently around the world.

However, the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) had already received a similar motion from one of their member associations. EUD believes that this is an issue of interest for the global deaf community and that it would be preferable to have one global, rather than several regional symbols. This is why the EUD board decided that it is better for WFD to continue working on developing a new symbol, a process which we are happy to support.

For any further questions on the topic, we recommend you to contact WFD at info@wfd.fi .

20. How can British Deaf Association remain as an EUD Full Member after the Brexit?

https://vimeo.com/225831138

We would like to confirm that our British member association, the British Deaf Association, will remain a full member of EUD for the time of the exit negotiations between the UK and the EU.

Unfortunately, we cannot provide you with more information regarding the status of the BDA as a full EUD member after the UK leaves the EU, as according to article 8, section 1 of our statutes (https://www.eud.eu/statutes-internal-rules/) "National organisations of Deaf people (‘National Associations of the Deaf’, NADs) active in the Member States of the European Union, with a clear majority of deaf voting members among its membership and with a governing Board with a majority of deaf persons and whose objectives conform to the principles and objectives set forth in Article 5 of the present Statutes are eligible to apply for full membership.” This would not apply to the UK anymore, once it has left the EU.

However, we are currently looking into options for our continued cooperation with and support for the British deaf community and will publish information on this issue online, once the discussions within EUD are finished.